Even though I have been camping since I was a kid, I just recently bought a roof top tent for the first time. Naturally, I loaded up on a bunch of camping gear to make sure I had everything I would need.
Camping in a ground tent is similar in some respects to using a roof top tent, but there are many little differences that add up quickly. This will serve as a guide for everything I bought and wish I had bought for my first roof top tent (RTT) camping trip!
To keep it simple I’ll just assume you already own a roof top tent and have a roof rack on your vehicle. Or, at least it’s on the way and you’re just getting prepared. If you don’t, I would highly recommend reading both of these articles! Best Roof Top Tents For The Money and Choosing a Roof Rack System For Your RTT.
Now, with all of that said let’s get into it!
My roof top tent camping essentials:
Sheets or sleeping bags
I see this question in Facebook groups more than anything! People really aren’t sure if they should use a sleeping bag like they have in the past or go with sheets like a normal bed would have.
In my opinion, you should absolutely get sheets. I find them way more comfortable and they fit perfectly for the mattress size inside a RTT! I bought this exact set of sheets in gray and love them!
To be honest, we have a set for both the bed in our room and the RTT! They’re super affordable and fit perfect. Depending on the size of your tents mattress, just go with what you think will fit best. Most tent mattresses are actually very similar in dimension to regular bed sizes.
I prefer sheets and find them more comfortable since they are breathable and you can just leave them inside the tent when you pack it up. However, you can still use sleeping bags if you prefer it!
This Coleman sleeping bag is a solid pick if you’re not going to be using it in very cold weather. It is still rated for temperatures as low as 20°F but can be used in all seasons! If you plan on winter camping, this sleeping Coleman 0° sleeping bag is a solid option.
Vehicle recovery equipment
Again, this depends on how serious of a camper you are. For dispersed campers driving on unmarked trails, this is a must!
With RTTs, you can only go as far as your vehicle can take you. Thus, it is extremely important to have all of the necessary tools to get yourself out of sticky situations.
A Hi-Lift Jack, recovery boards, portable tire inflator, car jumper kit , shovel, and a tire repair kit are all essential items to have in your vehicle when going off the beaten path.
Now, I know that is a lot of stuff and you probably can’t afford it all at once. I would recommend buying each item as you can afford too and soon enough you will have everything you need for a safe camping trip!
Mattress topper
One of the best things about owning a RTT is having a mattress on a flat surface at all times. It makes sleeping so much more enjoyable when camping.
While some tent mattress pads are better than others, there is one simple way to upgrade it. Buy a mattress topper! Usually, the mattress pad that comes with the tent is only 2″ thick and when you lay on your side you can feel your hip digging into the base of the tent
So, this mattress topper is a perfect fix for that. I would recommend not exceeding a 2″ thick topper because you need it to be thin enough so your RTT can fold or close with the topper inside of it.
If you prefer something more camping related the Exped megamat is the best that money can buy! It self inflates so you can easily store it inside your RTT when it is not being used.
Locking system
Believe it or not, I have heard numerous horror stories about people’s RTT being stolen. If you think about it, all someone would need is a few helping hands and a wrench to make it happen.
One cheap fix you can do to prevent this and have peace of mind is buying a security nut system. Both Tepui and Tuff Stuff offer their own set which comes with locking nuts and a special tool to tighten/untighten them.
For roughly $40, you can ensure the thousands of dollars spent on your RTT will be well protected against thieves. In my opinion, the peace of mind alone is well worth the small cost of this accessory.
Jackery power station
This piece of equipment is great for all campers but depending on the amount you go camping, you may or may not see this as necessary.
The Jackery portable power station power station is the perfect mid-level option which has 1 AC output, a car-port, 3 USB-A ports, 2 DC outputs, and an 8mm DC input. In short, it has every port you need to charge or power any item you have!
The Jackery 500 can give charge your phone 53 times, a laptop 7 times, power a mini cooler for 37 hours, or power a TV for 7.5 hours! You can recharge the battery by either using Jackery portable power station, plugging into an outlet, a generator, or a car outlet.
This compact power station packs a punch and will make a huge difference for your car-camping adventures. If you feel that you don’t need all of that power, I recommend stepping down to the Jackery 240.
Lighting
It’s probably not a surprise to any camper that lighting is vitally important for a camping trip. However, I would argue it is even more important when using a RTT, and here’s why!
Using the ladder to get in and out of the tent can be challenging to say the least. Especially late at night when you need a potty break. Trust me, I have learned this the hard way.
I would recommend having multiple light sources in and on your tent. This one is great for sticking to the ladder or part of the frame inside! I also bought this Camping lantern since it can charge my phone. It doubles as a lantern/flashlight which is handy as well.
To my surprise, it is plenty bright and I am really happy with the quality of it.
Fan
Trying to go to sleep while in an uncomfortably warm environment is one of my all-time least favorite scenarios.
RTTs typically have many windows that can help with air circulation but it is often not enough. I bring this hanging fan on every camping trip for a cool night’s rest.
Having that extra bit of air inside the warm tent really makes a big difference. The canvas on RTTs is much thicker than a ground tent and some models don’t breathe very good.
GPS app
Whether you plan on doing dispersed camping or just going to campgrounds locally, I would recommend getting a GPS app.
It’s nice because you don’t need to spend hundreds of dollars on a separate unit like it used to be. There are many apps for off-roading and overlanding but Gaia GPS is the best I have used.
The free version is adequate but the premium version is like $20 for a year and you can download maps. So if you lose service you can still see your location! Being in multiple overlanding, camping, and RTT Facebook groups this is by far the most popular.
Another solid app is onX. Both are great for camping but also off-roading, hiking, hunting, and much more! Before my first camping trip, I just went ahead and downloaded a map of the entire state on my Gaia app just for peace of mind.
Ladder extension
RTT ladders typically reach about 8.5 feet when fully extended. Depending on how tall your vehicle is you may need a ladder extension.
Our FJ cruiser is lifted and the rack is up rather high. The RTT sits about 8.3 feet off of the ground. We’re cutting it pretty close and when you’re not on a perfectly flat surface the ladder becomes angled too steep.
So before you go camping, I highly recommend testing the length of your ladder and account for the vehicle sitting even higher when you use leveling blocks.
Kitchen accessories
If you’ve been camping before then you probably have most of the kitchen accessories you need. However, here is a link to my recommended gear page to see all of the kitchen accessories I use!
I have tried a bunch of different brands over the years and all of these items gave me the most bang for my buck.
Tarp
I bought myself a tarp and some cheap bungee cords from Home Depot before my first camping trip. I bring it on every trip I go on just in case the weather drastically changes and we get some unexpected rain.
You can also use it to create a nice shaded area or any other uses you see fit! It’s super cheap but you can never be too prepared.
Awning
Last but not least adding an awning to your setup will make life that much better. An awning can stay mounted to your vehicle at all times and you can quickly set it up anytime you need it.
Having a nice shaded and sheltered area when you’re camping is a huge perk. An annex can provide an enclosed area safe from bugs which is nice too.
Either of these options is a worthwhile upgrade and something I wish I had on my first camping trip!
Wrapping Up
Whether you think these items are essential or not will really hinge on what kind of camping you do. If you stick to state campgrounds you probably don’t need any vehicle recovery gear.
For the true overlanders and dispersed camping enthusiasts, most of this equipment will be exactly what you need. It took me a long time to learn all of the necessary equipment that goes into this hobby.
It might seem like a lot but it is wealth worth the investment. The memories you will make from these trips will often be some of the best times of your life! At least for me, it certainly has been. I hope enjoyed this article and found it extremely helpful.
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